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Planning commission approves Chipotle pickup at Bond shopping center after staff conditions
Summary
The Upper Darby Planning Commission approved preliminary/final land development for a Chipotle pickup restaurant at 1884 South State Road, accepting most waiver requests while asking the applicant to coordinate tree-planting issues with the Shade Tree Commission.
The Upper Darby Township Planning Commission voted to approve preliminary/final land development for a Chipotle pickup location at 1884 South State Road, the former gas station at the Bond shopping center. The applicant and engineer presented plans to replace two of four driveways, add a pickup lane and limited outdoor seating and slightly reduce overall impervious cover across the 1.8-acre parcel.
Township staff advised the commission to approve all requested waivers except one related to street-tree requirements along the strip‑mall frontage. Joshua Chast, the township planning and zoning manager, said staff’s recommendation was approval “contingent addressing staff comments” but noted that the commission might want to work with the Shade Tree Commission on the street‑tree issue.
Wayne Kiefer, the applicant’s civil engineer, described circulation and landscaping changes and said the proposed Chipotle “is about double the size of the existing gas station building, but we are adding a little a slight bit of green area, so the overall impervious is slightly decreased.” The team also said they will add a landscaped island near the loading area and provide a second pedestrian access off State Road to direct foot traffic away from vehicle movements.
Greg Kerr of Pennoni Associates, the township engineers, asked that the limit of disturbance be delineated on the plan and confirmed the applicant will submit any HOP (Highway Occupancy Permit) or other driveway permit material to the township. Staff and the township engineer also asked the applicant to provide the HOP submission and stormwater details when available.
A member of the public asked whether the project would increase impervious cover; the applicant said the site-wide impervious percentage will fall from 74.4% to 74.3% (a 0.1 percentage‑point decrease across the 1.8 acres). After a brief public comment period, the commission moved to approve the plan, with the expectation that the applicant meet staff conditions and coordinate with the Shade Tree Commission about street trees.
The commission’s approval clears the project for the next steps, including any required permit submissions and coordination with the Shade Tree Commission; the applicant will provide final plan details to township staff and to council as required.
